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Things To Do In Napier, Hawke's Bay

Leisure and entertainment activities in Napier and Hawke's Bay are wide-ranging and aplenty. The region is rich and diverse in so many ways, and at the very centre of this vibrancy is the Art Deco capital of the World ... beautiful, sunny Napier.

Located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, 320km from the capital of Wellington, Napier is renowned for its temperate climate and stunning natural scenery. It is a popular tourist city, with a unique concentration of 1930s Art Deco architecture, built after much of the city was levelled and razed in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake.

Many of Napier's finest attractions are within easy walking distance of The National Aquarium, such as.

The Hawke's Bay Museum (MTG)

Ocean Spa and Soak Cafe

Art Deco tours and self-guided walks

The Marine Parade's kid-centric activities like Par2 MiniGolf

Bike Rentals for cycling around the local iWay network

Shops, galleries and world class restaurants and cafes

And, it's only a short distance to discover many other delights of Hawke's Bay including:

Wine, food and art trails

Spanish Mission architecture in Hastings

The charming leafy village of Havelock North

Coastal bohemian settlements of Haumoana and Te Awanga leading to the gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers

Te Mata Peak where you can take in the views or be energetic and freely hike the nature trails

Outdoor adventure like fishing, surfing, and tramping

Arts, Culture & Heritage

Napier, Hawke’s Bay is home to an eclectic mix of galleries, museums and theatres where enthusiasts can satisfy their thirst for arts, culture and heritage. Many artists show their work in their own studios or in the many galleries dotted around the region, including several in and around central Napier and the seaside suburb of Ahuriri.

Festivals and events fill the Napier and Hawke's Bay arts and culture calendar from alfresco winery concerts to the iconic Art Deco festivals in summer and winter, as well as exhibitions, performances, film and theatre. You can also experience authentic local Māori culture and heritage through fascinating tours that blend story, song, art and craft.

In Napier, the Hawke's Bay Museum and Art Gallery (MTG) features superb classical and contemporary exhibitions of art, craft and social history, including interactive exhibitions of the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, which levelled and / or razed much of the city, and the subsequent Art Deco architectural and cultural revival.

Art Deco Capital of the World – Napier, Hawke's Bay

Nowhere else can you experience such a beautifully preserved concentration of 1930s Art Deco architecture, along with locals and visitors, who can be regularly spotted sporting classic Art Deco garb. Napier celebrates its Art Deco heritage with a variety of activities and events, in remembrance of the 1931 earthquake destruction and the city's Art Deco rebirth.

Napier, Hawke's Bay Wine & Food

The Hawke's Bay region boasts some of the best food and wine produce in New Zealand (if not the world). History, consistency, diversity and innovation provide the foundation for Hawke's Bay's reputation as a fine wine-producing region. The Hawke's Bay Wine Trail map will lead you to tastings, tours and enticing winery restaurants and cafes.

Hawke's Bay's reputation for epicurean pleasures is well known. Visit artisan producers or fill your shopping bag at the local farmers' markets. For the finished product, you can choose from Napier's central city, waterside or winery restaurants and cafes, preparing, cooking and presenting only the best local ingredients on their menus.

Sightseeing & Tours

As one of New Zealand's not to be missed destinations, Napier offers a range of different tours to tour a beautiful region. Wine tours, city highlights tours, sightseeing tours, cultural tours, wildlife tours, Art Deco tours and much, much more. Take a self-guided excursion or book a tour with a local expert to discover the delights of Napier and Hawke’s Bay.

Outdoor Activities

Outdoor activities in Napier and Hawke's Bay are abundant. From horse riding to white water rafting, quad biking to kayaking, tosky-high aerial thrills, Hawke’s Bay is an outdoors playground for kids of all ages. With beaches, rivers, and lakes, and forests, historic parks and reserves aplenty, mild or wild, there is something for everyone in Hawke's Bay.

Family Activities & Events

Dubbed by some as the kid-capital of New Zealand, Napier is the perfect holiday destination for the entire family. Bring the kids and together enjoy fun family activities and entertainment such as museums, day trips, activities and natural landscapes are all here to be enjoyed.

Parks, Walks & Cycling

Whether you've got 30 minutes to spare or several days, taking a walk or a cycle ride is the easiest and healthiest way to discover the things in Napier and Hawke's Bay that we're most famous for. Attractions like Art Deco, wine and food, Cape Kidnappers' gannet colony, tranquil bush and the amazing Rotary Pathway (walk or cycle) that spans over 40km!

Shopping & Retail Therapy

Hawke’s Bay is the retail hub for the eastern North Island, with plenty of retail therapy options to suit every budget and taste. With an impressive range of stores to suit every taste and budget, soak up the atmosphere, discover the inner city charm, while grazing at one of the many outdoor cafes with a top-quality coffee or a glass of local wine.

Maps & Brochures

Plan your trip around Hawke's Bay with this selection of maps and brochures. See main activities, attractions, accommodation, wineries, galleries, walks and more. Learn more about Napier and Hawke's Bay to get the most out of your holiday experience. View brochures for free online, download them or order a copy to be mailed out to you.

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Some of the information available in this site is from the New Zealand Public domain and supplied by relevant
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Portions of the Napier City Council information and material on this site, including data, pages, documents, online
graphics and images are protected by copyright, unless specifically notified to the contrary. Externally sourced
information or material is copyright to the respective provider.

Kennedy Park Resort Napier

Napier City Council

For Napier City residents and citizens to have easy access to see what council are currently working on, completed, what they do, facilities, and council information.View website for Napier City Council

Napier Municipal Theatre

Unique Art Deco heritage has been preserved with the skilful addition of modern theatre facilities making it the best provincial performing arts centre in the nation.
View website for Napier Municipal Theatre

The Faraday Centre

The Faraday Centre in Napier, is Hawke's Bay's Museum of Technology. It's a place of discovery where history comes alive through hands on experience.View website for The Faraday Centre

MTG Hawke's Bay

Comprising a Museum, Theatre and Gallery - MTG is home to a significant collection of objects that form the foundation of distinctive exhibitions, a world-class research facility and the MTG Theatre.View website for MTG Hawke's Bay

William Colenso

Build on the blossoming national and international interest in William Colenso's life and ideas as the result of the William Colenso Bicentenary Celebrations in Hawke's Bay in 2011, and a body of new publications and research.View website for William Colenso